San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-01-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(Frcm Our Regular Correspondent, J
WASHINGTON, Jan. Is, 1887.

The passage of the great Inter
Stute Commerce bill, which is the re-
suit of n popular movement begin
ing twenty years ago, marks the past
week in Congress. There was good
deal of important legislation besides
this, however, such as that giving the
Agricultural Department Executive
importance and its chief u seat in the
Cabinet; that extirpating the bier.
archy at Salt Lake City, and that
doubling the militia appropriation for
the year. This last act will, doubt
less, be well received everywhere; fol
the time has come when 1t is ac-
knowledged that the citizen soldiery
of the land ought to receive more Mt
tention than has even yet been shown
them.
1t was expected that the Senate
would settle the vexed question OF
commerce by railroads as it did,about
the hour of midnight on Friday, but
no one knew how many more Sena
tors would be found supporting than
opposing the bill. 1t came triumph
antly through by vote of forty
three to fifteen. although number
of Senators who voted for the meas
ure We're dissatisfied with it. These
decided to set aside their own views
and follow the dictates of their con-
stituen!s, saying in this instance,
where legislation is necessarily eX-
per;mental, it is safe to give the peo
pie the benefit of the doubt.
The Inter State Commerce bill was
framed and pressed forward by men
who were mostly honest in their eff
fort to relieve the people, bnt there
are good many legislators who
doubt its efficacy. Some say the
railroads will put up their through
freights instead of reducing their way
freights, and thus insure the equality
which the law demands.
Now that the Anti Mormon bill
has been passed by the House, one
hears a good many comments which
indicate an appreciation of the sever
ity of the measure IL not only y makes
polygamy felony, but dissolves the
financial corporations known ms the
Latter Day Saints and the Perpetual
Emigration Fuud Company, and
practicaly Y abolishes all the machine
ry, religious Or political, that is now
employed directly OF indirectly in
the III m,iutennnce of the Mormon
Church system. There arc dffar-
ences Of opinion as to the wisdom
a1d justice of the policy, but the
friends of the meaanre just passed
u sumo that the malady is Of such
terrible nature as TO require heroic
treatment lis opponents say it
wOnid be better to wait upon the
slow attritIons Of time and the pres
sure of public opinion to wear the
evil out.
The Republicans pledged them.
selves to eradicate polygamy in 1856,
more than thirty years ago. They
held power for nearly Il quarter of a
century and rs Mormonism stiIl
1ourishes it is left for the Democrats
to perform duty which the Rcpub-
liclns neglected or else could not do.
OF course everybody desires that the
''twin relic of barbarisln" shall be de
stroyel, if it can be done without
straining the Constitution. Hon.
Randolph Tucker of Virginia, who
reported the Anti Mormon bill, held
that there was nothing in it that could
burt the conscience even of a Nor
mon. If he thought there was, he
said, he would vote against it.
Tue State reception at the White
House on Thursday evening was
in the gold lace of the (
guests of honor. the Diplomatic /
Corps, with music, gaslight, flowers
and palms on every side, crush Of
richly costumcd women and crowd .
Of lannon's men, many OF them III bril- .
liant uniforms. Besides the official
world OF the Capital, about sixty per-
sons in private life were invited to
the reception. Among those WAS
noticed Mr,. Frank Leslie, and il was
10 decide whether she or Mrs.
the wife Of the Senator
from California, worr the. largesi, or
the finest. or the greatest number Of
Tire Marine band which furnishes
music at the White House receptions,
IS enthusiastic in praise Of the pres
ent Administration. Mr. Cleveland
feeds them we'll and is sOciable and
kind t. them. aud Secretlry Whitney
j. a man Just after their own hearts.
When ti.ey got through az the Presi
lents On New Years Diy, the Sec
reiiry g iie Navy took them over 10
lis bOusc 10 play at tie reception
here H. paid them - apiece for
'heir serUces. aud the lealer $40
This Vas the first time they ever re
seivei any remuneration from a Cab
net ofh~er o. any other gOveument
Jf5ciaL They say the worst treat
uent they ever bad vas under Presi-
dent Arthur, uben they were sent
home at trO Or tlrse O'Clock On the